Force feed lubricator.



FORCE' FEED 'LUBRICATOR.

APPLCATION FILED SEPT. 20. 19H5.

Eatntd July 17, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T` C. THOMSEN.

FORCE FEED Lumcmon. l

APPLICATION F|L-ED SEPT. 20| 1916- 1,2.3,3,935 Patented July 17, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE. y

'THOMAS CHRISTIAN THOMSEN, 0F PURLEY, ENGLAND.

ronca-FEED LUBRIcAToR. l'

v A Application filed September20, 1916. Serial No. 121,198.

To all whom t may concern: A y

Be it known that I, THOMAS CHRISTIAN THoMsEN, a subject. of the King of Denmark, residing at Purley, Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Force-Feed- Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates-telubricators of the type in whichthe oil drawn from a reservoir by a primary pump is deliveredthrougha sight-feed or other passage to a secondary pump by which it is forced to the part requiredto be lubricated.

Attempts have been made to renderthe rate of feed or supply'of oil from the lprimary pump to, the secondary pump independent of variations in the viscosity of the lubricant due to changes bf temperature. For instance it has been proposed hitherto to arrange a primary pump to deliver into an vair'vessel having a by-pass below the oil level controlled b y a set screw, and to allow the'oil from the air vessel to pass a needle valveto a sight feed glass and thence'tol the secondary pump.- The intention of such proposal was to obtain a constant headunder which the oil could flow to the sight feed. It was thought that with increased viscosity 4of the oil a rise in pressure would occur in the air vessel which would com ensate therefor and maintain a constant eed.- The coarseness ofthe adjustment afforded by the set screw and needle. valve obviously prevented anythingbit very low heads or pressures being possible as the slightest ad- V ]ustment would cause such -a rapld change in the opening as to cause' a rapid drop in pressure. The above arrangement failed in practice particularly-with heavy engine oils.

The present `invention refers more particularly to `lubricators capable of dealing with heavy engine oilsand with which only very small quantities are .pumped at each operation. l

With such a'lubricator"y aline adjustment is necessary to enable accurate regulation of the quantity of oil to be -ffed and moreover it is desirablethat means shallbe provided* w to insure a practically constant delivery forl 'leach adjustment irrespective of varlations 1n viscosity of the o il due to changes jin tem perature. .Y l

According to the invention the prlmary pump, which may be fitted with a suction valve and a delivery sealing valve ofusual form, is provided with aby-pass, by which some oil can escape back to the^reservoir,

. and the vdelivery passage has an outlet, be-

yond the delivery or sealing valve, which is adapted to be regulated, the by-pass and outlet from the delivery passage being such as tdpresent comparatively long frictional .surfaces so as to allow for a long range of adjustment and a V'high average pressure. There being ,no air cushion im the delivery passage, and the by-pass and delivery outlet bemg such as to present considerable resistance to the flow of oil aording a long range of adjustment, the above conditions are possible.

During each delivery stroke of the pump Specification of Letters Patent. l Patented July 17, A1917. l

some of the lubricant passes back through the by-pass andsome through the regulated outlet of the delivery passage. By regulation of this outlet the ratio of the resistances yto the flow of lubricant through the outlet fering with the setting or adjustment of the p normal rate of feed. l

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a 'sectional elevation of one form of single-feed lubricator accordingto the invention.

Fig. 2 is alfront elevation, partly. in sec- A tion, of a multiple feed lubricator according to the invention, the section being taken on the line II-II, Figs. 3 and 4.

Figs. 3 and 4 are side sectional elevations on. the lines III-III, IIL-IV, Fig. 2.

- Fig. 5 illustrates on a larger scale theadjusting plug in detail.

, Fig. 6 is anenlarged plan of a'plug for carrying the suction check valve.

In applying the invention to one form of lsingle feed lubricator as shown in Fig. 1, a

reservoir 1 for oil and provided with operating mechanism hereinafter referredto, is also provlded at one side with twovho'les 2.

and 3, one to permit the passage of a pump barrel 4 and the other to form part of a suction passage 5L A casting 6 forming the pump barrel 4 and a valve box 7 is secured vback to the reservoir 1.

yto the outside of the reservoir 1. The pump barrel 4 is bored to suit a stepped plunger, the annular or stepped part 8 of which forms the plunger for the primary pump plug 10, having an enlarged head or flange 11. Below the flange 11 is a hollow collar or casting 12 clamped by the plug to the valve box 7 'and having a lateral passage 13 leading to a sight feed nozzle 14, the casting 12 acting as a clamp for theupper end of a sight feed tube 74,-2-the lower end of which rests-in a circular groove 15 in the top of thel pump barrel 16 of the secondary pump and which has' a conical opening '17 to receive and conduct the oil to the front of the plunger 9.

The` lower part of the valve box 7 contains a ball 18 or other suitable form of automatic suction valve which controls part only ofthe suction ,passage to the primary pump, the remainder of the passage being left free to act as a by-pass. For instance the ball valve 18 may be carried in a cup 19 ina plug 20 screwed in the bottom ofthe.

valve box 7 and having a central hole l21, controlled by lthe ball 1'8, leadlng through lateral holes 22 to an annular space 23 below the ball'valve 18 and communicating withthe suction passage 5. The annular space 23 also communicates with the space above the ball 18 by means of a suitable by-pass passageA 24 or passages, so that on the suction stroke of the primary pump plunger the ball 18 rises and oil is free tolpass through the -central hole 21 as well asthrough theby-I pass 24. On .the delivery stroke of the plunger 8 the ball 18 closes the central hole but the by-pass 24 allows some oil to pass sages 24 are'preferably formed by the provision of flats on the cup 19 of the plug 20 as shown in Vthe enlarged plan of the'plug in Fig.l 6. Narrow and long passages are thereby formed offering long frictional surfaces. A ball 25-or other form of nonloaded. automatic check valve is provided at the bottom of a delivery passage 26 and above said. valve 25 a secondary seating 27 is formed for a cylindrical plug 28-having one or more tapering flats' 29 formed invit which in conjunction with the seating will forma passage or outlet for the oil presenting long 4frictional surfaces. According to the. setting of this plu 28 relative to its seating 27 so will the de lvery passage be controlled. In other words the recesses 29form a constantly open outlet for the delivery passage '26, which outlet is adapted to be regulated, 'or determined by the setting or adjustment of theV plug 28. Thev plug-28 has a stem 30 passing up the hollow plug 10 and through The by-pass pasa screwed gland 31. The gland 31 acts as an abutment for a spring 32 coiled about the stem 30 tending to hold the plug 28 to its seating. .The screwed gland 31 forms an adjustment for the plug 28, as a knob 35 on the stem 30 rests on the vhead 33 thereof. To facilitate fine adjustment the head 33 may be toothed and receive a spring catch or blade 34. y

The stem 30 may be lifted by the knob 35 to remove the plug 28 almost entirely from its seating when an excess. quantity of oil or Hushing is required. This doesnot interfere with or alter the feed adjustment as immediately the knob 35 is released the spring 32 returns the plugV 28 to the position to which it was set, the knob resting on top of the head 33. The oil from the delivery passage 26 enters the passage-13 which delivers I the oilto the sight feed nozzle 14 from which the oil drips into the inlet opening 17 of the secondary pump either directly or down amwire oil guide 36. The secondary pump plunger 9 forces the oil past av ball or-other i check valve 37 as usual, to the delivery pipe4 50. p

In operation, once the plu 28 has been set,` the relative open areas of t e` outlet of the delivery passage and. suction by-pass during the delivery stroke remain constant, and similarly the relation of their resistances to -fluid flow remains practically constant.

Should the viscosity of the oil vary due to change in temperature the relation of the resistance of one to the other will be practically the same asv before so that the delivery will be practically constant. f

\The plunger 8 is operated by mechanism within the oil tank 1; In one form this comprises a cam or eccentric 41, which preferably has a loose roller 42. on it to reduce friction and ismounted on a shaft 43 driven in any of the ways commonly adopted with lubricators and well known in the art, so

that no description of this driving mechamsm is necessary. The plunger 8 is moved 1n one direction by a spring 44 and in the opposite direction by the cam 41, and ring 42. abutting againstal head 40 on the plunger 8. p

In applying the invention to a lubricator having a pluralityof feeds it is sometimes preferred to use one primary pump common to all the feeeds each of which is provided l with a secondary pump. A llubricator of lic ence to Fig. 1. Each secondary pump barrel 16 is'r fitted Awith a separate `plunger 9 having a head 59 engaging with a ring 60 on a cam 61 mounted on the driving shaft 43.

Each cam 61 moves the respective plunger 9 in one direction and a spring 62 returns it in the opposite directio l recesss or pasiage 17 conducts the oil which drips from each corresponding nozzle 14 to the respective pump barrel 16. A single large drip chamber54 is formed in the casting 52 and is covered in front by a glass plate conveniently clamped by a frame 56 and screws 57.'

In operation all the outlets 29 of the delivery paage 26 are regulated by adjusting the plugs 28 by means of the screwed glands 31. The primary pump supplies the delivery passage 26 with oil and the rate of flow from the nozzles 14 is adjusted according to the requirement of each feed. The oil drips into the secondary pumps andx is delivered by' them through oil delivery pipes to the points to be lubricated. .Once the plugs 28 are adjusted, the ratio of the resistance to the flow 0f oil fromthe delivery passage, and the resistance to flow backthrough the by-pass will be fixed. So long as the adjustment remains unaltered the average pressure Within the chamber 26 will automatically increase or decrease with the viscosity vof the oil, so that the feeds are maintained constant irrespective of changes in temperature or viscosity of the oil.

It will be understood that beyond the delivery sealing valve 25', the delivery passage 26 is constantly open during operation, that is to say there is only frictional resistance to the flow of oil, no spring or other loaded valve being` interposed between the outlet and said sealing valve.

At each delivery stroke of the primary pump plunger the oil has two opposlte ways to viow, one way through the delivery passage and another through the by-pass. Both ways offer frictional resistance. These two resistances will vary with variations in viscosity of the oil, but once the ratio of the two has been set; or determined,4by adjustment of the outlet jof the delivery passage as hereinbefore described, vthe ratio will'remain the same with increase ordecrease in pressure due to variatlons 1n vlscoslty of the 011 andconsequently the rate of feed through the delivery passage will remain constant. The adjustment of the outlet of the delivery assage will, however, enablethe rate of eed to be regulated asdesired. An adjustable rate offeed which will remainconstan't' once as and for the adjusted, irrespective of kchanges of temperature or viscosity is therefore obtainable.

1. A lubricator comprising a primary pump having a suction valve, a delivery sealing valve and a by-pass close to said pump, and a delivery passage beyond said delivery sealing valve, having an outlet, said by-pass and said outlet each being long relatively to its cross sectional area for the purpose of presenting long frictional surfaces to the passage of the oil, and means for regulating said outlet to vary the frictional resistance thereof for the purpose of fixing the ratio of the resistances to the flow of the lubricant through said delivery passage and through the aforesaid by-pass-during the delivery stroke of the pump-and thereby to insure a constant rate of feedof the lubricant for each adjustment irrespective lof changes in viscosity of the lubricant due to changes in temperature, substantially as hereinbeforeset forth.

2. A lubricator comprising a primary pump having a suction valve, a delivery sealing valve, a by-pass, and a delivery passage beyond said delivery sealing valve and having an outlet, means for regulating said outlet comprising a cylindrical plug having a tapering flat, a seating for said plug, and adjustable means for holding said plug in determined relation to said seating, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. A lubricator comprising a primary pump having a suction valve, a delivery sealing valve, a by-pass, and a delivery passage beyond said delivery sealing valve and having an outlet, means for regulating said outlet comprising a plug having a tapering recess, a seating for said plug, a stem for said plug, a screwed gland for said stem and through which said stem passes, and a knob on the outer end of said stem adapted to rest on the outer end of said gland, substantially forth. y

4. A lubricator comprising a primary pump having a suction valve, a delivery sealing valve, a by-pass, and a delivery passage beyond said delivery vsealing valve and having an outlet, means for regulating said outlet comprising a cylindrical plug having a tapering fiat, a seating for saidplug, a spring for moving said plug toward said seating, meansl for enablingsaid plug to be moved away from said seating a ainst the action of said spring, and adjustalemeans for limiting the. return movement of,said

purpose hereinbeflorey set v plug under the action of said spring, for the purpose ofl enabling the aforesaid outlet to be ad'usted, and after adjustment to permit o a temporary increased opening thereof for flushing purposes without interfering with said adjustment, substantially as `hereinbefore set forth.

5. A lubricator comprising a primary pump having a suction valve, a delivery sealing valve,ya by-pass close to said pump, and a delivery passage beyond said delivery sealing valve, a plurality of secondary pumps, outlets from the aforesaid' delivery passage for delivering oil to each ofsaid secondary pumps, said by-pass and said outlets each being long relatively to its cross sectional area for the purpose of presenting long frictional surfaces, and separate and adjustable means for regulatingeach of saidoutlets, substantially as and for the 15 purpose hereinbefore Set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed myv name to this specificationy inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS GHRls'rliN rHoMsEN. Witnesses :l

AUBREY B. SMITH, A. W.- MATHYS. 

